Celebrating our Clean Champions

MY job allows me to work with such a wide variety of local people, who are committed to improving our environment. THERE are so many passionate Clean Champions in the city these days, about 6,000 of them, who go out in their neighbourhood, taking a real pride in helping to keep the area clean by litter picking. YOU’VE probably seen their handiwork in the form of purple bags at the side of litter bins, waiting for collection by our Street Scene teams. SOMETIMES they just go out on their own, others enjoy joining a group of likeminded people. IT was at one of these events that I met Rosemary and Hilary the other day, and we chatted as we picked. As we were in an area where lots of students live it wasn’t surprising to find streamers and balloons – presumably the remains of end-of-term parties. LOCAL primary school children were also involved, and it’s always interesting to get their perspective on things, often they’re shocked by the number of cigarette ends they find.

It’s quite satisfying to me to know that every bit of waste plastic I pick up is being saved from getting into the water system, which would probably flow out to sea and could be eaten by or get tangled in some unsuspecting fish, mammal or bird!

Last week I was happy to mark 30 years of the Nottingham Green Partnership, which involves many important organisations in the city, including the council, businesses, educational institutions, charities and voluntary groups.

We meet regularly to share good practice, to talk about projects we’re working on and how to involve more people in improving our environment and working towards carbon neutrality.

The Partnership has been a really important body in pushing ahead and encouraging each other, and at last week’s meeting we heard from Nottingham Trent University and the Environment Agency on what they’re doing now to contribute.

There’s a lot of work to do, but we are making progress together.

I’m really looking forward to hearing from the Youth Climate Assembly, who are spending a whole weekend together in July, funded by the National Lottery, talking about how to make a difference, and I know they will be asking me to support their ideas.

But, in the meantime, I will be celebrating the work of our Clean Champions, who are invited to the Council House next week as a thank you for their fantastic contribution.

I know they won’t all be there, but it’s really important to recognise their commitment and I hope when you see them on the street you will thank them too.

In the city we have a good tradition of thanking our bus drivers, let’s routinely do it to our Clean Champions too!

■ Councillor Sally Longford is Portfolio Holder responsible for Energy Environment and Waste Services at Nottingham City Council.